|   Few pics of the agricenter race course from Sat afternoons | Duckman
Mar 24, 2003 5:46 AM | | ...ride after Chicopee. At work and stealth posting, so bare with the typos and short text.;)
After the start you go up and down a few rollers and then come to the 1st 12-15' blind dropaway. White sand over hardpack is about 1/3 of this course.
Then you start up the 1st easy multi switchback climb to the ridgeline.
Some of the what seems to be endless meandering sweat fast singletrack.
The top of the biggest climb. About 200' vert gain over about 150yrd. Note the tops of the trees as they drop away. This is a killer as theres switchbacks leading to the start. Many fast downs, jumps, log piles, bride jumps, etc before this tho.
At the top you make a sharp left at the colored tape as you try to recover you hit some small rock gardens to keep you honest plus some tight and still somewhat up and back over the top to the right to a fast 200yd straightaway and then doooooooown, which is fast, rutted, some turned banked, etc.
Fast and still down right off turn camber halfway down the hill. Fun thru here for sure.
Other side view.
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| Few more pics | Duckman
Mar 24, 2003 5:59 AM | | The ride for the day.
At the bottom and flying thru a banked right, you see this view. Beware that far drop off, especially at race speed.
Side view of whats below. Slick too. Drops down to a swamp flood plan area.
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| Few more pics | RLinNH
Mar 24, 2003 6:05 AM | | Trail looks sweet. What State is it in and how long is it? |
| Near Gianesville Ga. Check the trails reviews | Duckman
Mar 24, 2003 6:16 AM | | just to the right of this screen. 4.5 miles of this course, but the rave will be 11+ miles per lap using other nearby Agricenter property. big place nearby that owns this prop. |
| Ops, one last pic | Duckman
Mar 24, 2003 6:20 AM | | Note the 70* spring day. Yup, i was the only one there late Sat afternoon(2 riders when i started). Good thing i didn't crash or something..eh? not many know about this trail yet.
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| Road Trip... | RLinNH
Mar 24, 2003 6:22 AM | | I wonder how long the ride would be from New Hampshire? ;-) |
| Ah, the "as fast as you like it" AG Center! | ScubaCruz
Mar 24, 2003 7:08 PM | | Good pics of the place. That first 12-15ft dip broke an expert's back last year. Too much speed up out of it... up up and then staight down into a pile driver!
The AG Center is fun challenging course. To do better on it, I know I need to get better with the short climbs; faster pace, don't blow up. In the mean time, I need to make sure the rest of it doesn't kill me as I go faster and faster through it. The tight sections through the skinny pines with the 1ft x 2ft dips thrown in, man oh man, it's a blast to hit 'em just right, but a near shorts stainer if you get out sync just little!
That last root drop (last if your riding it for fun, 1/2 way during the race), it's a dumper of many come race days!
Another interesting fact is this course was built 90 percent with a Dingo (TORO walk behind mini-dozer). In the years it's been open little maintenance has been required. Good to see it's holding up. Opposite end is singletrack at Blankets. Yes, it gets 3 or 4 times the riders, but no race day rides, it looks good, rides good, but requires too much maintenance and up keep. On our heavily used metro-trails, the Dingo is the way to go. Just a personal opinion from 3 years observation.
Thanks for posting the pictures of the local trails. Come to the GAP races and get some shots of "Hail Mary" riders on 'em some this year!
ScubaCruz |
| Well...actually | Duckman
Mar 24, 2003 7:33 PM | | i was planning to enter the beginner class 40+ when the Agri has there race. figure it'd be a blast..eh?
duckster |
| Yep, you'll have a blast. | ScubaCruz
Mar 24, 2003 8:14 PM | | If you're cutting 20 min laps at Blankets, you should do well at the AG Center in the beginner class. What was it, 2 laps last year for beginners? I ran sport vet and finished mid pack after 3 laps. Warmed up too early and for too long -- gotta have those excuses! Last year I got down in the 20 min range at Blankets also, but didn't have good starting power/speed and decent climbing legs and lungs. Hoping to see some major improvement after a winter of actual real structured training and the addition of road riding / spin classes to my training. Last year I just road alot, read some and applied it somewhat to my mountain bike riding. A spin class last year was slicks on a full suspension on the Silver Comet! Though I have to say, your training sounds pretty structured also. A really good start to a productive race season!
Me, I'm shooting for the Helen race in May to be in top form... for a measly little oh sports rider that is! Hey, it's fun and a challenge to push myself. Will I make it to expert someday? Maybe not. Tough to say, but worth the dreaming.
When you're pre-riding the AG Center for race prep, go up the old road, past the iron gate, up to where the trail crosses at the top. Start your lap from there, as if you've just come down from the horse barns. Again, keeping the speed up on the short hills and being able to recover afterwards is the key to cutting fast laps at the AG Center. Watch for the Time Trials to return again there is year; June / July time frame. Fastest lap starting from the day parking lot was 17:10! I've only pushed it to 23min laps there while training.
Best of luck racings and even more good luck staying healthy in between races! You and me!
ScubaCruz |
| Thanks for the great intel, and | Duckman
Mar 24, 2003 8:29 PM | | anymore like that is most welcome. you know the rule, age and treachery...i believe 110% in the "little things" theory. most all will do the obvious, but that just buys a ticket to the dance, so to speak. again, as i like especially like hearing the real savy on such. have been trying to find out the total course, but haven't any luck yet.
thanks again
duck |
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